Fortunately, Mr. Jones, who to his credit arrived within the hour, was not overly concerned. He agreed with Elizabeth's assessment that this was likely a case of Jane having asserted herself too much too soon into her recovery. Recommending rest and an herbal tea Elizabeth well knew how to prepare he left with promises to return in several days' time to check on Jane's progress. Elizabeth was greatly relieved. After seeing Jane comfortably resting in their room she went to prepare a cup of the tea for when her sister awoke.

Upon turning the corner at the bottom of the stairs on her way to the stillroom her progress was arrested by the last person she expected to see in that part of the house.

"Mr. Darcy!"

His surprise was almost equal to hers which seemed unfair as it was her house.

"I apologize for startling you, Miss Elizabeth."

Since he had done precisely that Elizabeth could only nod in acceptance of the apology and swallow her question as to what he was doing there in the first place.

"Your mother invited Mr. Bingley and I to stay for dinner." He said after a moment. "I went to check on our horses." He looked as if he meant to say more, seemed awkward at this small admission, and she could not resist teasing him not certain if she meant to discompose or put him at ease.

"Really, Mr. Darcy your desire was to avoid the company of my mother you could have invented a better excuse than visiting your four-legged friends who I am certain were being well cared for by Mr. Abernathy. Perhaps you felt a swoon coming on or an urgent matter of business arose and demanded immediate attention?"

He nearly smiled at this. Elizabeth saw is coming in his eyes, but as it reached his mouth and threatened to turn its corners up they seemed to protest the unusual activity and turned down instead. As was their custom.

"No indeed I had not sought to avoid anyone's company." He said in the hesitant voice she was beginning to grow accustomed to. She suspected this was the truth but not all of it. With a raise of her eyebrows she encouraged him to continue. They stood in a narrow hallway in the back of Longbourn. Her mother would have been horrified had she known Elizabeth was detaining the great Mr. Darcy in such a lowly part of the house. While it was true Mrs. Bennet did not care for their exalted neighbor this certainly did not mean she wanted to do anything but impress him and this situation would undoubtedly not do that. However, Elizabeth felt he did not seem uncomfortable in their surroundings but perhaps at the prospect of returning to the very proper sitting room. What she did not know was why.

"Your sisters have returned from Meryton." He said.

"Now I begin to understand you, Mr. Darcy." She smiled. "You mean to avoid the melee."

For this she could not entirely blame him. What she wanted to know was was his avoidance based on a haughty disdain for all of the current inhabitants of her home or was he perhaps . . . shy? This was an idea that had not occurred to her before. Indeed, she had been certain of her assessment of Mr. Darcy's character up until a few hours ago, but now after one and a half conversations she was wondering if his having wounded her pride so egregiously before they even met clouded her judgment more than she had realized.

"Perhaps." He allowed, submitting it to her as if awaiting judgment. When not frozen in a mask of indifference and judgment his features really were quite pleasant.

"Have you met my cousin Mr. Collins?" She asked, curious for his impressions of the silly man. It was probably unwise in this nascent stage of an almost truce to challenge him with such absurdity. If anything would invite the return of the haughty and proud Mr. Darcy it would be her ridiculous relation.

"No, I have not had that pleasure. Your youngest sisters had just returned and they did mention that a cousin and your sister Mary were some distance behind them when I excused myself to attend to the horses."

"Yes, we now return to the issue of your inability to conjure reasonable excuses for absenting yourself from company. I would have thought someone who I do not doubt has had some practice at it would be better at it by now."

"You have sketched my character so thoroughly on such a short acquaintance?" He asked sounding quite put out and Elizabeth would have felt herself chastised were it not for the continued absence of the Darcy scowl. Were they in fact have a congenial conversation here in the back hallway of Longbourn while he hid from her family.

"Perhaps I have. As I indicated at Netherfield I do enjoy complicated characters and I believe you are one of those. However, I do require more information to thoroughly sketch you."

"And how may I provide this information as I would be no means suspend any pleasure of yours." He responded and this time one side of his mouth definitely turned up in an almost smile.

True insight into his character would likely come from his behavior upon being introduced to Mr. Collins. This would certainly add to her sketch of Mr. Darcy and resolve any lingering doubts she had about his being as proud and unpleasant as she first believed. How would he react to the simpering and obsequious man? She was again of two minds. At once eager to return to her former dislike and reluctant to lose this softer almost congenial Mr. Darcy. In any case, it would be better to know the truth of him sooner rather than later.

"Presently I must prepare a tea for my sister." She said knowing this would appear to not answer his question.

"You mean to test my knowledge of herbal remedies?"

"Would you pass such a test?" She asked moving toward the still room. He fell into step with her, their shoulders almost touching in the narrow hallway. They arrived at the doorway to find Mrs. Hill within.

"Miss Lizzie, Mr. Jones told me that Miss Jane needed the special tea made and so I have brewed it and sent it up to her. Martha brought it and will sit with her."

"Thank you, Hill." Elizabeth said then turning to Mr. Darcy to suggest they return to the parlor together.

"I am sorry to have lost the opportunity to demonstrate my tea-making ability and to leave you in further doubt as to my character." Mr. Darcy said sounding genuine.

"Not at all Mr. Darcy. Although I would have been impressed had you proven adept in the still room, the information I seek with regards to your character will be revealed when we join the rest of my family and Mr. Bingley." With that she led the way to the front of the house.

As they entered Elizabeth quickly saw that Mr. Collins and Mary had now returned. She turned to Mr. Darcy to make the introduction, but before she could get a word out Mr. Collins rushed forward.

"Mr. Darcy my young cousins have just given me to understand that you are the nephew of the noble Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Please believe that only my ignorance of this fact has prevented me from making myself known to you before now. I am blessed to be the recipient of Lady Catherine's bounty and beneficence. It is within my power to assure you that your Aunt and cousin, the lovely Miss Anne de Bourgh were in the best of health two days ago." As he made this speech Mr. Collins neither paused for breath nor rose from the half bowed position he initially folded himself into upon approaching Mr. Darcy.

That gentleman looked surprised at being thus accosted before being fully allowed to enter the room and uncertain as to how to reply. Elizabeth watched as he seemed to form a reply, his haughty demeanor firmly back in place, but before he spoke he looked up at her and she couldn't hide her expectant smile.